The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1887-02-24
WHOLE NO. $50

""Ohl NATURE intended lOf
an active business life, and that life he
is living
W. L. MATHES.
The COMET reporter avails himself
otthis opportunity to return his thanks
to Squire W, L. Mathes for the mum.
berless courtesies extended him dur
ing his stay in Jonesboro. We found
him possessed of ai7 almost exhaust
less fund of information, and he has
been OF great service to us in the prep
aration OF this sketch of the county
seat and of its diversified interests.
We doubt if there is another man in
Washington county who is more gen.
orally acquainted with men and meas
resofthecounty than he, and his reten-
tive memory makes him just such a
man asa newspaperreporter likes toin-
teView So far as that is concerned
squire Mathes has a specially kindly
feeling for the members of the "third
estate" for he is newspaper cores
pondent himself, and the well known
adage applies "a fellow feeling makes
us wondrous kind"
Squire Mathes is native of this
immediate region, but he has passed
considerable portion of his life in
other portions of the country, and he
has always been a keen observer Of
men and things. That he has the
good will of his neighbors and friends
is shown by the fact that he was elect.
ed two consecutive terms as Clerk of
the Circuit Court, retiring from that
honorable and responsible position in
August last. Previous to his election
he was Deputy in the Circuit and
County Clerks offices for about two
years. He also officiated for six years
as Magistrate His active business ex-
perlences began here before the war
when he was appointed station and ex.
press agent at this point. Subsequent-
ly he was transferred to Rogersville
junction where he served both roads
in similar capacity. Eventually re-
moving to Memphis he engaged in
trade, and after the surrender he was
connected with one OF the prominent
firms OF that city until 1865 when he
returned here and engaged in the pro-
duce and grain trade, buying and
shipping, Then for nearly two years
he was in partnership with Capt Sc
vier in the Washington Hotel, at the
depot. Farming next occupied Squire
Mathes' time for several years, and in
1870 he returned to town and be-
came Deputy Circuit Court clerk.
Ten years ago he also engaged in
the Insurance business, and to this he
continues to give his personal atten-
tion. He represents the Continental,
OF New York, Phenix OF Brooklyn.
Phoenix, of Hartford, Ct., Aetna, of
Hartford, Georgia Home, of Colum-
bus, Ga, Knoxville Fire and Island
Home, of Knoxville. 1t is quite need
less to add that this agency does by
far the largest business of any in this
section of country, and those who
know Squire Mathes equally well
know that he would represent none
but responsible companies.
In April, 1881, Squire Mathes es-
/ tablished the Planters Hotel. 1t had
| formerly been a hotel property, but
great changes and improvements were
made at the expense of large outlay
OF cash, and now there is not another
+ so cosy, home-like hotel in all this
: region. Squire Mathes has horror
: OF dirt, he does not "matriculate" that
= Way, and the result is that the "Plant-
e er's" is miracle Of cleanliness. It's
s broad verandahs and corridors are not
e stained with unsightly blotches of to-
bacco juice; its Office is we'll supplied
= with daily and weekly papers and 9TH
: er literature its rooms are tastily
furnished and its beds are inviting
/, while the table is bountifully supplied
a with well cooked viands. In brief the
l. planters" is an oasis in the usually
d dreary desert of hotel life.
is Mr.. A. R. Piper is clerk, and he has
e been associated with Squire Mathes
n ever since the Planters" was opened
Is He, too is an old resident of Jonesbo
h 70, having come here from Rocking
d ham county, Va, in 1889. For Ions
er time he was connected with mercan
f. tile matters here; he was formel
le deputy clerk in the Chancery and Cir
Of ciut Court offices, has been a farmer
1t &C., but now his whole time is taker
g. up with his present duties. We hay,
le found him, too, to be courteous gen
p tlemeu, and the COMET reporter bem
away none but pleasant recollection
" of the Planters" its proprietor an,
e clerk.
- The Marquis of Landsdowne. Gov
= ernor General of Canada, when givel
the freedom Of the city Of Mhntrea